Tech, Miami look to get back on track in ACC on Thursday night behind impressive quarterbacks

#Hokies, Hurricanes meet in crucial game that could play big role in how Coastal Division race shakes out

BLACKSBURG — As he started college football's version of the 100-meter sprint Sunday in terms of preparation, Virginia Tech's Jerod Evans knew there was no time to waste before Thursday night's vital game against Miami in Lane Stadium.

Thursday's game isn't just a meeting to prove which team is more capable of bouncing back from disappointment and remaining a key player atop the ACC Coastal Division standings. It's also a matchup of quarterbacks, including Miami's Brad Kaaya, who are looking to break out of the gaggle of capable leaders running in an impressive pack just below Louisville's Lamar Jackson and Clemson's Deshaun Watson.

Though time management was essential Sunday, Evans wasn't going to let Tech's disappointing 31-17 loss at Syracuse last Saturday fade into the ether without a full review. He watched the video, broke down the errors that led to Tech (4-2, 2-1 ACC) failing on 9 of 13 third-down opportunities and came to a conclusion.

"We have to bring our own energy, our own emotion and this is a very team-oriented sport," said Evans, who, despite throwing his second interception of the season and losing a fumble against Syracuse, is the nation's seventh-most efficient quarterback. "We have most guys bringing it and some guys not, and that can lead to certain things. As far as bringing our own stuff, we as a unit didn't bring it all the way."

With the usual frenzied Lane Stadium crowd that has become typical for Thursday night games in Blacksburg expected to be on hand, Evans anticipates Tech having a much more focused offense against Miami (4-2, 1-2).

He's not alone. Tech wide receiver Isaiah Ford feels the same way. He said Tech, which is 21-9 all-time in Thursday night games but has lost four of its last six, took a workmanlike approach to the short week.

"I feel like the team handled it very professionally," Ford said. "We all knew that we let one slip away Saturday, but we can't hang our heads on that, because Miami is coming to town this week."

Like Tech, which also plays next Thursday at Pittsburgh in another big Coastal Division game, Miami is trying to recover after dealing with letdown. After starting 4-0 and climbing as high as No. 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 rankings, Miami has lost its last two games at home, falling 20-13 last Saturday against North Carolina and 20-19 two weeks ago to then-No. 23 Florida State.

"It's kind of like a wounded animal a little bit backed up into a corner. They're going to play their best football, and I've got a lot of respect for Miami."

Now, Miami faces a Tech team the Hurricanes have had a lot of success against in the last two seasons. Kaaya, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior, has had a lot to do with that success.

Last season, he completed 19 of 30 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns in Miami's 30-20 home victory against Tech. Two seasons ago, Tech suffered one of its most embarrassing home losses in former coach Frank Beamer's 29-season tenure when Miami won 30-6 on a Thursday night in October behind 249 yards rushing by former Hurricanes running back Duke Johnson.

Kaaya was a freshman making just the fourth road start of his career in 2014 at Tech. His stats were fairly pedestrian — 7-of-16 passing for 92 yards and a touchdown — but he made an impression.

"I was kind of impressed with him, especially when he was a true freshman and came into town two years ago," said Tech starting defensive end Ken Ekanem, who along with starting defensive tackle Nigel Williams is questionable to play against Miami because of injuries. "He was very composed. He was calm in the pocket. He's a pretty good pocket passer and does a good job of leading his troops ... so I've got a lot of respect for him. I think he's a pretty high-caliber quarterback."

Kaaya, who has completed 98 of 158 passes for 1,373 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions this season, has yet to have a big breakout game this season against a top-caliber opponent. He passed for 368 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in Miami's win against Appalachian State, but he hasn't eclipsed 241 yards passing in any other game.

While Kaaya is gearing up to return to the scene of one of the most impressive wins of his freshman season, he'll be supported Thursday by another stellar backfield that features the two-headed attack of running backs Mark Walton (101 carries, 566 yards, 8 TDs) and Joe Yearby (64 carries, 434 yards, 6 TDs).

Tech will be facing a depleted Miami defense, which will be without starting end Demetrius Jackson and key backup tackle Gerald Willis because of injuries and could be without starting end Chad Thomas (questionable).

Miami leads the nation in tackles for losses (10.5 per game) and it's tied for 14th in the nation in sacks (3.17 per game), but Hurricanes coach Mark Richt has a good handle on the kind of mobile quarterback Tech will counter with Thursday night.

"He's a special talent," Richt said regarding Evans, who has completed 96 of 153 passes for 1,346 yards, 17 touchdowns and two interceptions, and who is second on the team with 319 rushing yards. "I could see why they went and got him.

"You know that whether you have a lot of designed quarterback runs, or if things don't develop like you hope they do in a certain pass or if something breaks down in protection, he can make somebody miss and get out in a scramble situation and make a throw or just cross the line of scrimmage and get first downs where the defense might have done a good job. Those are the toughest plays to defend."

Wood can be reached by phone at 757-247-4642.

GAME PREVIEW

MIAMI (4-2, 1-2 ACC) AT VIRGINIA TECH (4-2, 2-1)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

TV: ESPN.

RADIO: 790AM, 910AM, 93.5FM, 107.5FM.

WHERE: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg.

THE BUZZ: With Justin Fuente on Tech’s sideline and former Georgia coach Mark Richt now leading Miami, there’s a new look to this rivalry that became an annual occurrence in 1992 when both programs were Big East members. Though both teams come into Thursday night unranked after losses last weekend dropped them out of the Associated Press Top 25 poll, It’s a game that will have huge ramifications on the ACC’s Coastal Division race, which tightened up last weekend after North Carolina beat Miami and Tech lost at Syracuse.

Tech quarterback Jerod Evans will lead the Hokies against a defense that will be missing starting end Demetrius Jackson and backup tackle Gerald Willis because of injuries. Miami’s corps of young linebackers, led by freshmen Shaquille Quarterman (35 tackles) and Michael Pinckney (31 tackles), and a secondary anchored by safety Rayshawn Jenkins (team-high 40 tackles) and cornerback Corn Elder, will be the featured players in a unit that’s fourth in the nation in scoring defense (14 points per game) out of 128 Football Bowl Subdivison programs and 14th in total defense (313.5 yards per game). Miami also leads the nation in tackles for loss (10.5 per game).

Tech is still stinging after losing 30-6 to Miami two years ago at home on a Thursday night. On that night, former Miami running back Duke Johnson ran for 249 yards. Though Miami is led on offense by quarterback Brad Kaaya, it continues to have plenty of flash at running back with Mark Walton and Joe Yearby, who have already combined to have 1,000 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

They’ll try to find running room against a Tech defense that’s still top 20 in the nation in total defense (seventh, 291.5 yards per game), scoring defense (15th, 18.2 points per game), rushing defense (17th, 113.8 yards per game) and passing defense (20th, 177.7 yards per game) after giving up 561 yards to Syracuse. Starting defensive end Ken Ekanem (team-high 4.5 sacks) and starting defensive tackle Nigel Williams are questionable because of injuries. Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster said he expects Miami to show a lot of one-back, two-tight-end sets, plus three- and four-wide receiver looks.

Thursday night is a favorite of both programs, as Tech has gone 21-9 in games on Thursday, but has lost four of its last six. Miami is 17-3 since 2000 on Thursday nights.